Most water supplies in modern homes have a high level of filtration and conditioning before they even reach your faucets. Plus if you use ground water—a private well—you probably have your own Andover, MN water treatment system in place on site. However, something many people don’t realize is missing from their property and plumbing system is protection from hard water. Hard water is the name given to water that has a high concentration of minerals in it—namely, calcium and magnesium. These minerals are, fortunately, harmless to ingest, however, they can do a lot of damage to your plumbing system. Hard water needs to be managed with a water softener as it enters the home, so that it doesn’t put your pipes out of commission. Keep reading to learn the signs that your home does in fact suffer from hard water.Soap Scum Coating the Bathtub
Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you’re bad at keeping things clean! Soap scum can build up more quickly in a bathtub that’s affected by hard water. The minerals keep soap from dissolving as easily as it usually would.Water Spots Appearing on Glasses After a Load of Dishes
Water spots that appear on glassware after you do the dishes might do so because of minerals in the water supply. These water spots are harmless, but are still bothersome. Plus, they can indicate that your dishwasher is slowing accumulating damage from the same hard water molecules that jam pipes and cost homeowners thousands of dollars.Yellow or White Residue Building Up around Sinks and Drains
This is a pretty apparent sign of potential plumbing problems. This is because that same buildup on the outside of your faucet is happening within it as well, and in your pipes. Slowly, the mineral deposits continue to collect, and restrict the volume inside of the pipes. Eventually, you’ll likely need to replace your faucet and water pipes, far sooner than you expected. Another area of your plumbing you’ll want to watch out for this problem is with your showerheads. Over time, the buildup can restrict water from flowing through it. Typically, you can unscrew the end of the faucet or shower head and clean out the aerator, but this is a temporary solution to the bigger problem of hard water.Your Hair and Skin Don’t Feel Right after Showering
We’ve heard people describe their hair as feeling dull after a shower with hard water. It lacks in volume or movement. The reason for this is that the minerals present in hard water dilute the shampoo or conditioner you’re using. The same can be said for your soap or body wash—and the result could be dry flaky skin after showering.Your Clothes Break down Too Fast
The same way that soap scum builds up in your bathtub, it can struggle to dissolve completely in your washing machine. This can prevent clothes form rinsing off or can make them stiff after they come out of the dryer. Also, it causes your clothes and other washables to break down faster than they would normally.For quality plumbing services and more, contact Air Mechanical, Inc. today!